Locally Isolated Bacterial Strains with Multiple Degradation Potential Capabilities on Petroleum Hydrocarbon Pollutants

In the present study, 23 isolates, dominated by bacterial genera (74%) were isolated from petroleum sludge at refinery wastewater plant, Jeddah, KSA, by means of selective enrichment in nutritionally optimized refinery wastewater (NORWW) and over twelve successive transfers. Efficiency of biodegradation on complex mixture of hydrocarbons present in refinery wastewater was evidenced by changes in both total viable counts (TVC) and COD content of cultivation broth. Out of the 23 isolates three most potent isolates named BDCC-TUSA-8, BDCC-TUSA-12 and BDCC-TUSA-18 were selected for their efficient COD removal and active growth. The three isolates were tested separately in Bushnell-Haas (BH) media for their capabilities to degrade n-Hexadecane, phenol and phenanthrene, representing the major types of hydrocarbon pollutants. The results strongly indicated that all three isolates showed multiple degradation potentials with remarkably fast reaction rates. Before being recommended for future work, the three isolates were fully characterized and identified employing culture-dependent techniques such as API 20E, API 20NE and API 50CHB, and further confirmed by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis as Pantoea agglomerans, Acinetobacter lwoffii and Bacillus thuringiensis respectively. The obtained potent strains provide valuable candidates if assemblages of mixed fewer strains with overall broad and complementary enzymatic capacities are to be considered in order to bring the rate and extent of petroleum biodegradation further as a cost-effective process.

Characterization of a phenanthrene-degrading methanogenic community

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs)often occur in oil-contaminated soil,coke wastewater and domestic sludge;however,associated PAH degraders in these environments are not clear.Here we evaluated phenanthrene degradation potential in the mixed samples of above environments,and obtained a methanogenic community with different microbial profile compared to those from sediments.Phenanthrene was efficiently degraded(1.26 mg/L/d)and nonstoichiometric amount of methane was produced simultaneously.16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that bacterial populations were mainly associated with Comamonadaceae Nocardiaceae and Thermodesulfobiaceae,and that methanogenic archaea groups were dominated by Methanobacterium and Methanothermobacter.Substances such as hexane,hexadecane,benzene and glucose showed the most positive effects on phenanthrene degradation.Substrate utilization tests indicated that this culture could not utilize other PAHs.These analyses could offer us some suggestions on the putative phenanthrene-degrading microbes in such environments,and might help us develop strategies for the removal of PAHs from contaminated soil and sludge.

Polarization effects and tests for crystalline silicon solar cells

We try to find a fast and simple potential induced degradation effect （PID） test procedure for crystalline silicon solar cells. With sodium chloride （NaC1） solution as Na＋ source, PVB as lamination material, we can carry out the test in 1 h. Solar cells with newly developed PID resistance process were also tested. The increase of reverse current of solar cell can be considered a key standard to determine if the solar cell was prone to PID. Moreover, it showed that the increase of reverse current for the PID resistance solar cell was less than 2. In addition, the test results of the solar cells fitted very well with that of the modules by standard procedure.